"They're doing the rituals…" is the first thing Diana tells them when she enters the living room.

Akko, Croix and Ursula had been watching the television, wanting to see if there had been any news concerning the terrorist group or their escape at Luna Nova. They had been doing that for a week now and there had not been a single news coverage concerning them or the terrorists.

Apparently, it seemed that the Ministry was keeping the situation under wraps.

So, while they waited to hear news, they had decided to continue with their magic lessons. Diana and Akko knew that they were the weakest ones of the group and they didn't want to risk the safety of the professors just because they had to keep them safe. So, after discussing it with Diana the first night, Akko had convinced the blonde woman that they needed to learn the spells the witches of the Ministry had used against them that day.

Lucky for her, Diana agreed with her a hundred percent.

(Flashback)

"Right now, what we have to do is just sit tight." Croix tells them after having had a peaceful sleep. "Unfortunately, because we're trying to stay under the radar, that means that we'll have to stay inside this house as much as we can."

"We understand." Diana says calmly while reading a book on white magic casting. "Is it ok to assume that the house adapts to the necessities of its occupants?"

"Yes."

"So, if we were to wish for a training room, would the spell you used facilitate one?"

"Why would you want one to begin with?" Ursula is the one that asks her.

"Because during our fight at Luna Nova, the witches of the Ministry used some spells that we didn't know. We need to prepare for them."

"Those spells are taught specifically for battle situations." Croix informs the blonde witch. "And are only taught to witches that are accepted to work at the Ministry."

"I know you both can use them as well." Diana smiles devilishly. "I saw Ursula Sensei take down a giant puppet with one. And, the memory spell we performed was another one."

This makes Croix chuckle knowingly.

"You're very clever."

"Too clever for her own good." Ursula agrees with a soft smile.

"Diana is right." Akko speaks for the first time since Diana brought the subject to discussion. "You're doing all of this for us; we don't want to burden you by being incapable of keeping ourselves safe. So please, Croix and Ursula Sensei, teach us how to defend against this type of attacks."

"These spells are not easy and require a lot of stamina." Ursula warns them. "You must build up on stamina before being capable of casting them."

"But we can teach them the spell and how to use their wand without them actually activating the spell." Croix tells Ursula who is going to refuse. "Chariot, they're no longer children. Not giving them the tools to defend themselves would be irresponsible on our part."

This makes Ursula look away from the table because she knows that Croix is right.

She just didn't want to teach that type of magic to Akko and Diana.

"Ok, we will teach you." Ursula says softly. "But you can only use them if your life is in danger and there's no other way to get to safety."

"Understood." Akko and Diana say at the same time.

"Now then, let me prepare the room we will use for practice and the tools we will need." Croix gives them a soft smile.

She also didn't want them to learn that type of magic.

(End of Flashback)

So for a whole week, the four witches had been practicing their spells and tactics to defend and attack enemies. Croix, after leaving Luna Nova, had started working for the Ministry and hence had learned all of their techniques and spells. Ursula, meanwhile, had read ancient books that focused on concentrating magic on your body and using it as a weapon (because apparently that's how witches fought before they created the wands).

Between their magic lessons and tactics, the four women had found a way to prevent their anxiety from dominating them. Since they had to remain untraceable, they couldn't just go and ask for information from the locals. So instead, what had been decided was to use familiars. Croix had been against using hers since the Ministry knew its magic. Ursula had agreed as well, claiming that their contacts inside the school would probably be watched by the Ministry. So, they needed to find someone from the outside to keep them informed. Luckily, they had Diana's owl, who was passing them information from Anna, Diana's maid. She had been telling them what was happening at the mansion and what the servants were hearing from the people of the middle class.

"But they can't…" Akko says worriedly. "The Ministry has not approved the law yet."

"The leaders of the nine families have agreed to hold a secret meeting with the Master of Bloadell." the blonde witch informs them bitterly. "The Cavendish have been invited to attend as well."

"What will your aunt do?" Ursula asks her. "She cannot refuse the invitation."

"She knows that." Diana closes her eyes. "Anna told me that my aunt does not wish to go. But she has to in order to keep appearances."

"Rejecting an invitation from the Master of Bloadell would be considered by the other families as an act of treason."

"The Master of Bloadell?" Akko asks confused.

"He is the representative of the nine main families who is appointed by a majority of votes from the leaders of the families." Ursula explains to her quickly.

"Many believed he died years ago in a revolt outside his house." Croix says carefully. "In fact, Ursula and I were saying earlier that it's too much of a coincidence that he happens to make his appearance the moment the seal of the Grand Triskellion is broken."

"So he's also involved in all of this?"

"He must be." Diana is the one that answers her friend. "The Master of Bloadell is responsible of keeping tradition and continuing the lineage of the nine olde witches. So, it is in his interest to make the blood rituals legal."

"Besides, they say that the Master of Bloadell's magic is connected to the blood of the nine families. The stronger the bonds are inside the family, the stronger his magic becomes." Croix tells them. "Or at least that's what I heard while I was working on the Noir Rod."

"How did you manage to acquire information on the mechanics of the Shiny Rod?" Ursula asks her friend.

"There were ancient books from the dark ages that talked about artificial magical artifacts created to counteract the witches' magic." the lilac-haired woman explains softly. "The books are kept by the Ministry and I was able to gain access to them through my mother." she looks down in embarrassment. "But in those books they did talk about the Master of Bloadell's artifact. How it was created by humans in order to prevent witches from attacking them."

"Then how did it make its way back to the magical community? And why would they even use it?" Diana thinks out-loud. "It doesn't make sense. In fact, it goes against their traditionalist point of view."

"Perhaps they don't know that the artifact was created by non-magical beings?" Akko is the one that answers.

"Akko may be close to the truth." Croix says. "Although the books I read are in the Ministry, not many can access them."

"So because the non-magical beings were trying to bind magic, the artifact they created reacts once the magic of the strongest families is controlled." Ursula summarizes their suspicions.

"But the Master of Bloadell believes that the magic of his artifact increases because the ritual is being performed. Not because of the effect the ritual has on the family members." Diana realizes as well. "And he's going to conduct a ritual today."

"A family must have volunteered to perform the ritual." Croix closes her eyes. "Do you know which one?"

"It's being kept a secret." the younger witch tells them. "All I know is that the meeting will be held at the mansion of the Master of Bloadell and all family leaders have been asked to attend. Apparently, the Master of Bloadell will use the Seal of Loyalty to ensure the loyalty of the nine leaders."

This makes Ursula stare at her friend worriedly and move around the room in circles.

"What is the Seal of Loyalty?" Akko asks confused.

"It's a brand that is passed down from family leader to family leader. The brand is said to have been placed on the first leader of the nine olde families by the first Master of Bloadell. Once that ritual was completed, the brand has been magically passed on once the head of the family dies to the next in line." Diana tells her softly. "The brand, it is said, acts similar to a contract. In order to use it, the Master of Bloadell must sacrifice his own magic. But, once it is active, it physically punishes the carriers that reject the call."

"That's awful." Akko whispers and is relieved that Diana is not the leader of her family.

And Croix Sensei was also safe because…

"Your mother, she's the leader of your family…" the brunette whispers worriedly. "But she works for the Ministry so she can't represent them. She can't go." she then looks at her professor and understands why her mentor was so freaked out when Diana mentioned the brand. "Don't tell me you're the leader of the Meridies family…"

Croix looks down in sadness and takes off her sweater so she can show them the brand.

"Of course, how foolish of me to not realize this sooner." Diana murmurs and then stares at her professor brokenly. "You have to go."

"But we're being chased by the Ministry!" Akko says while getting close to Croix and holdings her hands. "You can't go there. Can't we do a spell to prevent the brand from activating"

"The Ministry can't intervene in a meeting of the Master of Bloadell." Ursula whispers softly. "So Croix would technically be safe once she enters his mansion."

"Besides, a potion that could help Croix-Sensei endure the punishment from the brand would take too long." Diana adds dejectedly.

"So you're actually considering this!" the brunette girl says angrily. "Can't you see that she doesn't want to go! Why are you two forcing her to do so?!"

"Because I have no choice." Croix is the one that responds. "We can't also make an enemy of the Master of Bloadell." she chuckles bitterly. "Even if I were to endure the pain of the brand, having the traditionalist faction as an enemy is something completely different. They won't hesitate to use my absence as an excuse to hunt us down and kill us. Just think of the effect the brand has and that it's only meant to make the carrier know he or she is being called."

"Kill us? Because you don't want to go see a meeting where a person will be bound to another and basically made a slave?!" Akko screams and stands up to stare at the three women in front of her. "Do you even realize how fucked up that sounds?!"

"Akko…" Diana whispers worriedly because she had never seen her friend lose her temper like that.

This anger, it wasn't childish like the one she showed when her spells didn't work. This one was anger at being incapable of helping the people she cares about.

"I also don't like this." Ursula tries to get close to Akko but the girl doesn't let her. "Do you think I want to send Croix there?" she raises her voice a little. "Me, who knows how much she has suffered because of them?!"

"Chariot…" Croix whispers sadly while watching the scene unfolding in front of her.

"Then why must she go?!" Akko continues arguing for her. "Why must she suffer for something that it's not her responsibility? How is that even fair?!"

"It's not fair." Diana is the one that says now. "Akko, I hate that Croix-Sensei must do this, but there's no other choice. Because you don't come from a magical family, you don't understand how serious this is."

"I understand that going can get Croix-Sensei hurt. Don't you care about that?" she stares at Ursula. "I thought you would…"

This makes the room become silent and for Croix to stare at her friend worriedly. She would have never expected to see Akko fight with Chariot, not after what happened at Wagandea. And yet here they were, watching how much Akko's words had hurt Chariot.

"I hate to be the one telling her to go." the red-haired witch whispers dejectedly. "But I don't know what else to do. We can't leave, and, if we do, the Ministry will arrest us. And, if she stays, Croix will be in pain because of the brand. So tell me, Akko, what should I do?"

I have to stop this…

"I will go." Croix says from her chair softly and this stops the two women's discussion.

"Croix…" Ursula whispers sadly.

"I have no other choice." she says this to Akko, who looks away from her.

"To me, nothing makes sense. These rituals and traditions that end up hurting and dividing magical beings. They're not what magic is supposed to be about! I thought magic was supposed to make people happy…" she chokes out the last part and that's Diana's cue to run forward and hug her tight.

"I'm sorry Akko…" she whispers sadly.

"Why are you sorry?" Akko laughs bitterly. "This is not your fault Diana. It's not our fault and yet we're suffering because of it." she separates from her friend and goes towards Croix-Sensei, who is still sitting. "If you were capable of not feeling pain because of the brand and I asked you to not go, would you listen?"

Croix gives her a sad smile.

"If you were in my situation, would you listen?"

Akko chuckles bitterly and steps away from her.

"I had to try."

The older woman chuckles as well.

"You wouldn't be you if you didn't try." she goes towards Akko and uses her hand to wipe her tears. "Are you crying for me?"

"Of course I am!" the brunette whimpers. "I care about you Sensei."

This makes Croix smile warmly at her and hug her tight.

"I will be alright." she promises the younger witch. "It's just a meeting."

"Then why do you look so scared?" Akko challenges her.

"Because I never wanted to be a Meridies." she confesses softly. "And now, I must go and be one for the wrong reasons."

"Sensei…"

"I'll come back." she promises her and then stares at Diana. "Can your familiar acquire the address of the mansion from your maid?" she asks and gets a confirming nod. "Ok, then that settles things." she smiles and turns to look at Chariot who is doing her best to not cry. "Akko, why don't you go with Diana?"

This makes Akko take a look at her mentor and realize how she must be feeling about the situation. Nodding in agreement, she gets close to Ursula and grabs her hand, squeezing it softly and whispering apologies before leaving them alone.

"She didn't mean it." Croix tells her softly after making sure they're alone.

"I don't want you to go." Ursula says while tears fall from her eyes.

"I know…" the lilac-haired woman smiles calmly.

"Do you?" she asks hesitantly. "I know that lately I haven't been like my old self." she whispers dejectedly. "And that I've been distant."

"Chariot…" the older woman grabs her hands. "You haven't done anything wrong. You have been perfect in every way and I'm happy to be your friend again."

"So you only see me as a friend?" the red-haired woman asks knowingly.

Croix closes her eyes painfully.

"Am I that obvious?" she separates from Chariot so she doesn't see her eyes.

"I just know you too well." Ursula smiles sadly at her. "Do you, only see me as a friend?"

"Do you need me to answer that?" Croix asks sadly.

"I don't know." she confesses brokenly. "I just feel so much. A part of me just wants to let things go and forgive you completely." she steps closer to Croix. "While the other is asking me to be careful and wait. To see how things work out and to heal before letting you in again. But I don't want you to give up on me."

This makes Croix shorten the distance between them and hug her tight.

"If your heart is asking you to wait, then listen to it." the older woman tells her surely. "Besides, I am stubborn Chariot." she chuckles softly. "So I promise you that no matter what you do or for how long I must wait, my feelings for you will never change."

This makes Ursula stare at Croix with a sad smile.

"I am lucky to have someone like you." the red-haired woman caresses her friend's face and watches her close her eyes at the contact. "Please come back to me…" she whispers and closes the distance between the two of them.

Croix closes her eyes at the feeling of Chariot's lips on top of hers. It had been so long, and yet, she could still remember the sweet familiar taste. Moaning in relief, she lets go of her inhibitions and kisses Chariot will all her might. She wants to savor every scent and smell; every small whimper and bite that can make her keep this bittersweet kiss in her memory.

"Chariot…" Croix says softly after separating her lips from Chariot's.

"I may not be ready to say the words out-loud." Ursula tells her while kissing her again tenderly. "But I hope my actions speak louder than words. For now…"

For now, Croix thinks with a happy smile on her face, this is more than enough.

This is hope…